Clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies



Sept. 9, 1958 A. KARLE ETAL 2,851,398

CLAMPING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH BODIES Filed July 24, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Ill-' INVENTORS August Kar/e mqlljn BY Kar/ Fapp Sept. 9, 1958 A. KARLE ETAL 2,851,308

CLAMPING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH BODIES Filed July 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS Augusf Kar/e y Karl Trapp Sept. 9, 1958 Filed July 24, 1953 A. KARLE ET-AL 2,851,308

CLAMPING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 35 INVENTORS Augus/ Kar/e y Karl Trapp Sept. 9, 1958 v A. KARLE ETAL ,8

CLAMPING AND POSITIONING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH BODIES Filed July 24, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Augus/ Kar/e y Kar/ Tropp MJQ Q operation of the machines.

United States Patent CLAMPING AND PUSHTI'DNING MECHANISM FOR BRUSH BODIES August Karle and Karl Trapp, Todtnau-Schwarzwald, Germany, assignors to Anton Zahoransky (Kommandit Gesellschaft), Todtnau-Schwarzwald, Germany, a family corporation of Germany Application July 24, 1953, Serial No. 370,002

Claims priority, application Germany July 26, 1952 12 Claims. (Cl. 300) This invention relates to the manufacture of brushes and more particularly clamping and positioning mechanism whereby brush bodies are firmly gripped and successively positioned before drilling and tufting machines. The invention is especially useful in its application to the manufacture of tooth brushes, to which use, however, it is not restricted.

Known types of clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies, such as jigs disposed on brush drill and tufting machines for positioning the brush bodies adjacent the drilling tools and the stuffing tools, usually consists of simple plates, frames or the like which move the brush bodies successively before the drilling and tufting tools. In order to change the position of such plates it is usually necessary to stop the machine.

Other known types of machines used for the subject purpose include two clamping units next to one another or vertically positioned, one above the other, disposed opposite the drilling and tufting machines, which permit changing of the locations of the brush bodies during By successively changing the positions of such clamping mechanism it is possible to change the operative positions of such mechanisms and insure substantially continuous operation of the drilling and tufting machines. However, the necessity remains for clamping and releasing one brush body after another, and this necessity requires exacting and tiring attention by an attendant, especially in the case of drilling and tufting smaller brushes in which the drilling and tufting time is exceedingly short when compared to the clamping time.

We have now found that it is possible to employ automatic means for clamping and positioning successive brush bodies for drilling and tufting in a manner which requires considerably less of the attendant of the machine. In fact, by taking advantage of the present invention it is possible for an attendant to operate several drilling and tufting machines simultaneously.

According to the present invention, a number of brush bodies are stacked in a magazine of light weight and simple construction from which they are fed successively to a novel clamping and positioning mechanism, whereby the brush bodies are automatically serially positioned for drilling and tufting before the respective drilling and tufting machines. The clamping and positioning mechanism comprises essentially a revoluble roller having co-acting gripping jaws at its periphery and means for automatically opening and closing said jaws during revolution of the roller. A succession of such rollers permits the brush bodies first to be presented to the drilling machine and then to be presented to the tufting machine, all in automatic sequence.

The clamping and positioning mechanism of the present invention, together with its magazine, is in itself an integral unit and as such may be substituted in drilling and tufting machines for the clamping and positioning Patented Sept. 9, 1958 ICC mechanism now in use. It is thus possible to substitute applicants novel clamping and positioning mechanism for known mechanism having a similar purpose in existing drilling and tufting machines to improve such machines considerably, and to eliminate a large part of the labor cost heretofore considered necessary in operation of such machines.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a semi-diagrammatic side elevation showing a complete clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies associated with a combination drilling and tufting machine;

Fig. 2 is a semi-diagrammatic front elevation of a clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies, including two magazines, but omitting certain operating parts for simplicity; v

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustratedin Fig. 2 as viewed from the left;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line VV of Fig. 2 illustrating the apparatus for revolving the clamping and positioning mechanism, but with certain parts of the apparatus omitted for simplicity;

' Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating an alterna* tive means for revolving the clamping and positioning mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line VIIVII of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the construction, positioning and operation of the gripping jaws, in one form employed in the clamping and positioning mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating the construction, positioning and operation of the gripping jaws in another form;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 7 and 8 illustrating still another form of the gripping jaws;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the shaft upon which the clamping and positioning mechanism revolves; and

Fig. 11 is an elevation of another form of shaft upon which the clamping and positioning mechanism revolves, this form of shaft being especially adapted for use with the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Fig. 1 thereof, there is shown a combination drilling and tufting machine 15 and a clamping and positioning mechanism 16 for brush bodies, whereby the brush bodies are successively presented to the machine 15 for drilling and tufting.

The drilling and tufting machine 15 comprises a frame 17 which carries a drilling unit 18 in substantially horizontal position and a tufting unit 19 also in horizontal position beneath the drilling unit. Means (not shown) is provided for bringing the drilling unit 18 and the tufting unit 19 respectively into operative contact with the brush bodies clamped by the clamping and positioning mechanism 16 and presented thereby to the machine 15 for drilling and tufting.

The clamping and positioning mechanism 16 here shown comprises three identical revoluble rollers 20 each having a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws 21 and 22 carried at spaced intervals about its periphery. As here shown each revoluble roller has four pairs of gripping jaws spaced at about its periphery. Means, later tobe described, is provided for automatically opening and closing each pair of gripping jaws during revolution of each revoluble roller 20.

A magazine 23 is disposed to extend vertically above the uppermost revoluble roller 20, and a stack of brush bodies 24 is placed within the magazine, which is open at its bottom immediately above the uppermost revoluble roller,

Consequently, the lowermost brush body 24 is pressed by its own weight and by the weight of the brush bodies above it upon the top of the uppermost revoluble roller 20. There the lowermost brush body ests between the gripping jaws 21 and 22 which are held open at this point by the automatically opening and closing means. The revoluble roller 20 revolves intermittently, in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, stopping periodically after revolving through 90. As the roller revolves, the brush body 24 which rests thereon is gripped between the jaws 21 and 22. The brush body continues to be firmly held against the revoluble roller 20 as the-latter turns through 90 and positions the brush body for action thereon by the drilling unit 18, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. A spring guide 25 is positioned to contact the brush body 24 resting upon the roller, as the latter turns the former away from themagazine 23, to hold the brush body in place until the gripping jaws 21 and 22 grip it firmly.

After the brush body 24 which is presented to the drilling unit 18 by the revoluble roller 20 has been completely drilled, the revoluble roller again rotates through 90' bringing a second brush body into drilling position. At the same time the drilled brush body is turned to a position beneath the revoluble roller 20 where the automatically opening and closing means opens the grlpping jaws 21 and 22, permitting the drilled brush body 24 to fall between the opened gripping jaws of the revoluble roller beneaththat which has just been described. A spring guide 26, positioned adjacent both revoluble rollers assures proper positioning of the drilled brush bottom in falling upon the second revoluble roller. The second revoluble roller 20 also rotates in a clockwise direction and its automatically opening and closing means operates its gripping jaws 21 and 22 in precisely the same way as does the corresponding means in the uppermost revoluble roller. Consequently the second revoluble roller merely inverts the drilled brush body, restoring it to a position with the same face disposed upwardly and outwardly as was the case when the brush body was rotated by the uppermost revoluble roller. As the second revoluble roller turns the drilled brush body 24 to its lowermost position the gripping jaws 21 and 22 are opened and the drilled brush body falls into a second magazine 23a extending vertically above the lowermost revoluble roller 20.

The magazine 23a feeds the lower-most revoluble roller exactly as the magazine 23 feeds the uppermost revoluble roller. Furthermore, the lowermost revoluble roller'20 grips and positions the drilled brush bodies'24 carried thereto by the second magazine 23a exactly as does the uppermost revoluble roller. presenting the drilled brush bodies successively to the tufting unit 19 by which the tufts of bristles are inserted in the brush body. When revolved into lowermost position by the lowermost revoluble roller 20 the gripping jaws 21 and 22 open and the tufted brush body is dropped into a chute or hopper (not shown).

It is here noted that the second magazine 23a providesa cushioning supply of drilled brush bodies above the lowermost revoluble roller. This permits continuing operation of a tufting unit 19 even though operation of the drilling unit 18 may be discontinued for a short interval of time.

The mounting and relative positioning of the revoluble rollers 20 and of the magazine 23 are best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The form and design of the support for the revoluble rollers and the magazine is, of course, adapted to the apparatus in connection with which the clamping and positioning mechanism is to be used. As here shown, a pair of frame members 27 and 28 fixedly support opposite ends of an axle or shaft 29 upon which the revoluble roller 20 is mounted, the shaft 29 being held against rotation as by pins 30 and 31. Carried by the frame members 27 and 28 are adjustable brackets 32 and 33 respectively; and each adjustable bracket carries three parallel bars 34 arranged in triangular form and extending vertically which constitute the magazine 23. Thus the brush bodies 24 are stacked in a very simple and light magazine above the uppermost revo u l roller 20. Because of the adjustability of the brackets 32 and 33 and the resulting arrangement of the bars 34 the magazine 23 may be adapted to-hold brush bodies 24 of different sizes, as required.

As here shown two such magazines 23 are provided, which feed brush bodies to the revoluble roller, side by side. Obviously the shaft 29 might be further elongated, and the number of brush bodies clamped and turned simultaneously by the mechanism might be multiplied. For simplicity, however, only one magazine and only one sequence of brush bodies will be described.

The revoluble roller 20 is mounted upon the shaft 29 centrally thereof between the frame members 27 and 28 and operating hubs 35 and 36 are respectively fixed to the outer ends of the revoluble roller for revolving the latter. Thus by rotating either operating hub the revoluble roller 20 is itself rotated. One means for rotatingan operating hub, as the operating hub 35, is illustrated in Fig. 5. As here shown this means comprises a ratchet wheelv 37 fixed to the operating hub 35 concentrically therewith. The ratchet wheel 37 has four peripheral teeth 38 thereon and a ratchet lever 39 engages the teeth 38 to rotate the ratchet wheel, the operating hub and the revoluble roller. Thus, rotation of the ratchet wheel, resulting from a single stroke of the ratchet lever 39, rotates the revoluble roller through a second stroke through a second arc of 90, and so on. The ratchet lever 39 here shown is provided with a pivot and a leaf spring 40in order that its ratchet end may be continually pressed against the ratchetwheel, in well known manner. A spring. biased pawl 41 engages the teeth 38 beyond the ratchet lever to position the revoluble roller and to prevent lts reverse movement.

Other means may, of course, be employed to rotate the-operating hub and the revoluble roller. Fig. 6 illustrates the application of the well known Geneva wheel to the operatnig hub 35 for similarly rotating the revoluble roller. Obviously, the roller 20 may be mechanically and automatically revolved.

The revoluble roller 20 which is mounted upon the axle or shaft 29 may take a number of detailed forms, but in each case has a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about its periphery. In the embodiments here illustrated the gripping jaw 22 is a fixed abutting jaw and the gripping jaw 21 is a movable jaw which is shifted into gripping or releasing position as the revoluble roller revolves about the axle or shaft 29. However, such is not necessarily the case, and both jaws may be movable. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the revoluble roller 20 has a central annular groove 42 formed therein in which an individual lever 43 is pivoted for operating the movable gripping jaw 21. Operation of the lever 43 will presently be described. The fixed abutting jaws 22 are rigidly connected together in two ringlike formations, one on each side of the movable gripping aw 21 and are adjustable axially of the revoluble roller in order to accommodate brush bodies of different sizes.

One form of revoluble roller is illustrated in Fig. 7, and this form will now be described. Here the movable gripping jaws 21 are carried atthe ends of levers 43 which are pivoted within the annular groove 42 as at 44. These levers 43 may have lever arms of equal length or of different lengths according to requirement. At the inner end of each lever 43 there is formed a nose-like projection 45 for contact with the shaft 29 upon a cam track formed thereon in a manner later to be described. A spring 46 contained in a radial bore 47 in the revoluble roller 20 bears upon the opposite side of the lever 43 from that upon which its nose-like projection is formed and is held in the radial bore 47 by a plug 48 fixed in the bore at its outer end. It is here noted that the plug 48 may be screwed further into or further out of the bore 47 to adjust the force exerted by the spring. Thus as the revoluble roller 20 rotates the cam surface on the shaft 29 moves the lever 43 in a direction which in turn moves the movable gripping jaw 21 into gripping position. As the nose-like projection 45 is no longer pressed outwardly by the cam surface on the shaft 29 the spring 46 turns the lever 43 oppositely to move the gripping jaw 21 into open position. This operation is repeated as the roller 20 revolves on the fixed shaft 29 to produce the results described above in connection with the description of Fig. 1. In Fig. the axle or shaft 29 upon which the revoluble roller 20 rotates is illustrated as a unit, the cam track 49 being shown centrally thereof.

Another form of revoluble roller 20a is illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Here the lever which operates the movable gripping jaw 21 is formed as a bell crank lever 43a which is moved into closing position by means of dished springs 46a which give a maximum force in a minimum space. The movable gripping jaw 21 is opened by means of a pin 50 which bears upon the lever 43a and extends through the revoluble roller 20 to bear at its other end upon the cam track 49 on the axle or shaft 29. Thus, the movable gripping jaw 21 is moved into gripping position by spring action and into releasing position by positive action of the pin 50.

Still another form of revoluble roller 20]: is illustrated in Fig. 9. In this case the levers 43b are formed somewhat like the levers 43 shown in Fig. 7, but Without the nose-like projections. Operation of the levers 43b to move them into closing position is effected by fluid pressure through pistons 51 moving in radial bores 52 in the revoluble roller body. The levers 43b are moved toward open position by means of springs 46 such as those illustrated in Fig. 7, but are moved into closed position by means of the pistons 51. In this construction a shaft 29a different from that illustrated in Fig. 10 is employed. The shaft 29a has therein a longitudinal bore 53 and a radial bore 54 extending outwardly therefrom to its surface. Pressure is applied through the longitudinal bore 53 and the radial bore 54 to the inner surface of the pistons 51 as the revoluble roller 20 rotates on the shaft 29a. A longitudinal groove 55 extends along the surface of the shaft 29a at 90 from the terminal of the radial bore 54 and connects with an annular groove 56 near the end of the shaft 29a for discharging pressure from each radial bore 52 as the inner end of the latter turn into contact with the longitudinal groove. Accordingly, the bores and grooves just described serve to conduct and take away fluid pressure (as hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure) which operates to close the gripping jaws; the jaws being opened by spring action as described.

From the foregoing, it will be recognized that the novel clamping and positioning mechanism herein disclosed automatically opens and closes in accordance with its position. It opens automatically to receive a brush body and closes at once upon movement from its receiving position, holding the brush body firmly and completely locked in the work position. The mechanism releases the brush body automatically at the required point in its rotation, and is automatically held in open position when it has been moved into the location for receiving a brush body.

Furthermore, the revoluble roller 20 may have a very small periphery from which the gripping jaws alone protrude. All other parts of the mechanism are positioned inside of the roller. A small radius of gyration and small rotary momentum therefore interfere to a minimum extent with quick movements of the apparatus. Rapid operation of the clamping and positioning mechanism, despite stops and starts between receiving, positioning and discharging points may therefore be made without excess strain or excess power requirements.

Obviously the clamping and positioning mechanism may be operated in other positions than that here described. Clearly, the magazine 23 need not extend verti- 6? cally above the uppermost revoluble roller 20, nor need gravity be depended upon for feeding the brush bodies from the magazine.

Clearly also, the cam surface on the shaft 29 may take other forms, or may be multiplied. Furthermore, the fluid pressure connections disclosed in connection with the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11 may, of course, take different form.

It will be recognized that the clamping and positioning mechanism herein disclosed constitutes a self-contained and integrated assembly and that it is not limited to use with any particular type of drilling and tufting machinery. It. makes possible simpler and less exacting operating technique and also makes it possible for an attendant to operate several drilling and tufting machines simultaneously.

The forms of the invention here disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are presented merely as examples of how the invention may be applied. Other forms and detailed embodiments of the invention, coming within the proper scope of the appended claims, will, of course, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. For use with brush drilling and tufting machines, a clampingand positioning mechanism for brush bodies, said mechanism comprising an immovable shaft, a roller mounted upon said shaft and revoluble thereabout, a plurality of co-acting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about the periphery of said roller, means for automatically opening and closing said gripping jaws to receive or release a brush body during revolution of said roller, wherein a cam track is provided on the outer periphery of said shaft for actuating said automatic open- 1 ing and closing means.

2. For use with brush drilling and tufting machines, a clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies, said mechanism comprising a revoluble roller having an annular groove therein, a plurality of co-acting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about the periphery of said roller, a lever pivoted for movement in the annular groove of said roller carrying one gripping jaw of each pair, a spring within said roller biasing each of said levers in one direction, and a cam track within said roller along which each of said levers move as said roller revolves for moving said levers against the action of said springs, said springs and said cam track controlling the action of said levers in opening and closing said pairs of gripping jaws.

3. Clamping and positioning mechanism according to claim 2 wherein cam action opens the pairs of gripping jaws and spring action closes the jaws to permit clamping brush bodies of different widths.

4. Clamping and positioning mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the spring within said roller is a dished spring-to give strong spring pressure in small space.

5. Clamping and positioning mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the spring comprises a plurality of dished spring-like elements disposed in a bore in said roller and a plug threaded into the bore to bear against said dished spring-like elements for adjusting spring pressure.

6. For use with brush drilling and tufting machines, a clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies, said mechanism comprising an immovable shaft, a roller mounted on said shaft and revoluble thereabout, a plurality of coacting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about the periphery of said roller, spring means carried by said roller for opening said pairs of gripping jaws, and fluid pressure means for closing said pairs of gripping jaws.

7. Clamping and positioning mechanism according to claim 6 wherein grooves and bores are provided in said shaft for supplying pressure to and relieving pressure in said roller, and wherein rotation of said roller on said shaft provides valve action as passages therein register with the groovesand bores in said shaft.

8. Clamping and positioning mechanism according to claim 7 wherein a lever operates one of each pair of gripping jaws, wherein radial bores are provided in said roller to register with the grooves and bores in said shaft, and wherein pistons are disposed in the radial bores in said roller for bearing upon said levers to close said jaws.

9. Clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies comprising a revoluble roller, a plurality of coacting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about the periphery of said roller, means for automatically opening and closing each pair of jaws during revolution of said roller, and a magazine forholding and successively feeding between said pairs of gripping jaws a series of brush bodies, in combination with a frame upon which said roller, said automatic opening and closing means and said magazine are mounted, whereby the mechanism may be operatively disposed adjacent a brush drilling and tufting machine and removed therefromtas a unit.

10. For use with brush drilling and tufting machines, a clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies, said mechanism comprising a revoluble roller, a plurality of co-acting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced'intervals about the periphery of said roller, one ofeach pair of jaws being fixed and the other of each pair of jaws being movable, means for automatically moving the movable jaw of each of said pairs of jaws to open and close such pair of jaws during revolution of said roller and a ring connection between the fixed jaws of the co-acting pairs of gripping jaws whereby said fixed jaws maybe adjusted in unison.

11. For use with brush drilling and tufting machines, a clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies,

said mechanism comprising a frame, a revoluble roller mounted on said frame, a plurality of co-acting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about-the periphery of said roller, means for automatically opening and closing each pair of jaws during revolution of said roller, a magazine mounted on said frame for holding and successively feeding between open jaws of said roller a series of brush bodies, a second roller similar to said first-named roller mounted on said frame to receive brush bodies from the opened gripping jaws of said firstnamed roller, and a third roller also similar to said firstnamed roller mounted on said frame to receive brush bodies from the opened gripping jaws of said second roller.

12. For use with brush drilling and tufting machines, a clamping and positioning mechanism for brush bodies, said mechanism comprising an immovable shaft, a plurality of rollers mounted upon said shaft and revoluble thereabout, a plurality of co-acting pairs of gripping jaws carried at spaced intervals about the periphery of each of said rollers, means for automatically opening and closing each pair of jaws on each roller during revolution of that roller about said shaft, and a cam surface upon said shaft for actuating the automatically opening and closing means for the pairs of gripping jaws on each roller.

References, Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,125,187 Schwartz Jan. 19, 1915 1,455,932 Perkins May 22, 1923 2,291,240 Landeck July 28, 1942 2,433,192 Baumgartner Dec. 23, 1947 

